Chapter 4
1429 Words
Chu Luoluo’s pale, delicate face bore an uncanny resemblance to her own.
It was difficult to pinpoint the exact similarity, but at a glance, the likeness was striking.
Upon closer inspection, the differences became apparent.
Chu Luoluo had a more delicate appearance, with arched brows, a slight frown, a small nose, and cherry-like lips, her features fragile like glass.
Su Hua, in contrast, exuded a calm and serene resilience, a strength embedded deep within her bones.
At that moment, Su Hua realized her place in Gu Beixian’s heart was merely that of a stand-in.
She laughed at herself, a bitter smile playing on her lips.
No wonder, three years ago, he agreed to marry her at first sight. The reason was now clear.
“Beixian, you’re here,” Hua Qirou, Chu Luoluo’s mother, greeted him with a forced smile.
Her gaze turned unfriendly when it fell on Su Hua.
Gu Beixian nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
Hua Qirou approached the bed and gently patted Chu Luoluo’s shoulder, “Luoluo, your Brother Beixian is here to see you.”
Chu Luoluo slowly opened her eyes, her gaze briefly flickering over Su Hua’s face without much surprise.
It seemed she already knew about their resemblance.
She looked at Gu Beixian, tears welling up in her eyes, and said softly, “Brother Beixian, I didn’t try to commit suicide. I just couldn’t sleep and took a few extra sleeping pills. My mother overreacted and insisted on bringing me to the hospital. I’m sorry for troubling you and Sister Su Hua so late.”
Hua Qirou, eyes red, scolded, “A few pills? You took more than half the bottle! If I hadn’t found you in time, you could have…”
She broke into sobs.
Gu Beixian sat by the bed.
He gazed at Chu Luoluo with a mixture of affection and mild reprimand, “Don’t ever do something so foolish again, understand?”
“Mm,” Chu Luoluo nodded tearfully, looking pitifully obedient.
Gu Beixian carefully wiped her tears with a handkerchief, his touch as gentle as handling the most precious porcelain.
His eyes were tender, filled with pity.
Su Hua watched in silence.
In three years of marriage, he had never shown her such tenderness.
This must be the difference between love and indifference.
Even though Chu Luoluo had abandoned him in his darkest hour, he still loved her.
For some men, the woman who hurts them is the only one that matters, no matter how deeply others love them.
It felt like a fishbone was lodged in her throat.
Su Hua couldn’t stay any longer, “You continue talking, I’ll go now.”
Hearing this, Gu Beixian glanced at her, his expression indifferent, “Explain to Luoluo before you leave.”
Su Hua took a deep breath, “Miss Chu, Beixian and I are only together because we didn’t want to upset Grandma…”
Her voice caught in her throat, she turned and left.
This was the first time she had defied Gu Beixian.
Also the first time she had lost her composure in front of him.
After the door closed, Chu Luoluo said, “Brother Beixian, you should go after Sister Su Hua. She seems upset.”
Gu Beixian was silent for a moment, “It’s fine, she won’t be angry.”
“She must have a really good temper,” Chu Luoluo said softly. “I didn’t expect Sister Su Hua to be so graceful and gentle. I thought someone from a small village wouldn’t match you.”
Gu Beixian felt a twinge of discomfort, “Though she grew up in a small village, her mother and grandmother were teachers, and her grandfather was a renowned restorer of ancient paintings before he retired. She comes from a scholarly family.”
“No wonder.”
The conversation died down.
After a pause, Chu Luoluo cautiously asked, “Sister Su Hua is beautiful and has such a good temper. You must love her very much, right?”
Gu Beixian, momentarily distracted by his phone, looked up, “What did you say?”
Chu Luoluo’s eyes flickered with disappointment, “Brother Beixian, you should go and see Sister Su Hua home. It’s not safe for a girl to be out so late.”
Gu Beixian stood up, “I’ll take her home and then come back.”
“Go ahead,” Chu Luoluo said softly.
As he walked away, Chu Luoluo’s gaze darkened.
After he left, Hua Qirou scolded, “Why did you let him go after all the effort to bring him here?”
Chu Luoluo frowned, “Didn’t you see how distracted he was? He was here, but his mind was on Su Hua. It’s better to let him go. If something happens to her, he’ll blame himself and maybe even me.”
Hua Qirou clicked her tongue, “You, my child, you’re shrewder than your mother.”
When Gu Beixian found Su Hua, she was almost at the hospital gate.
Her slender figure looked like a stroke of ink painting, swaying in the chilly spring breeze.
Gu Beixian quickened his pace to catch up with her.
Neither spoke, walking shoulder to shoulder in silence, as dark as the night.
At the gate, Su Hua turned to wait for a taxi.
Gu Beixian grabbed her wrist and led her to the parking lot.
Once in the car, Gu Beixian pulled a card from his bag and slipped it into Su Hua’s coat pocket, “I was rude tonight. This is a small compensation, the password is your birthday.”
Su Hua felt insulted.
To him, she could be appeased with money, not even worthy of an apology.
He only knew how to comfort Chu Luoluo.
She reached into her pocket to take out the card.
Gu Beixian pressed her hand, his tone stern and unyielding, “Keep it. I can give you nothing but money.”
Su Hua felt like there was sand in her heart, making it ache.
She had never wanted his money.
Midway through, Gu Beixian received a call from Grandma Gu, “Did you ignore my words? Come back immediately.”
“We’re almost home,” Gu Beixian replied calmly and hung up.
Back at the Gu family’s old house.
As soon as they walked in, they saw Grandma Gu sitting on the sofa, her face pale, her eyes sharp and bright.
She extended her hand, “Give me your phone.”
Gu Beixian handed her his phone.
She found Chu Luoluo’s number and dialed.
When it connected, she said sternly, “Miss Chu, my grandson is a married man. Please respect that and don’t call him for no reason! Since you broke up three years ago, don’t look back and don’t harbor any illusions about him!”
Without waiting for a response, she hung up and tossed the phone on the coffee table.
Gu Beixian frowned, “Luoluo has severe depression. She can’t handle stress.”
Grandma Gu sneered, “Even if she had cancer, it’s none of your concern. Your primary concern should be your wife!”
Gu Beixian’s eyes darkened, “Grandma, you…”
Grandma Gu started coughing violently, covering her mouth.
Su Hua quickly went over to help her up.
After settling Grandma Gu in bed and comforting her, Su Hua returned to the guest room.
She saw Gu Beixian finishing a phone call, placing his phone on the bedside table.
He was probably comforting Chu Luoluo.
Su Hua quietly took a long pillow from the living room sofa and placed it in the middle of the bed.
She also fetched an extra quilt from the wardrobe, one for each of them.
She removed her outerwear and climbed under the quilt.
It was already 3 a.m. She was exhausted, her mind foggy, wanting only to sleep.
The moment her head hit the pillow, she fell into a deep slumber.
She slept until the sun was high in the sky.
Opening her eyes, she was startled to see a beautifully chiseled face looking at her intently.
They were so close, she could feel his breath on her forehead, his deep eyes both restrained and intense.
She found herself curled up in his arms, her hands tightly around his waist, her legs entwined with his, an intimate and ambiguous posture.
The atmosphere was charged with a strange intensity.
Su Hua, feeling like she had touched a live wire, quickly pulled away from him, rolling out of his embrace.
Half annoyed, half embarrassed, she asked, “How did I end up in your arms?”
- Writer
